Peter Gabriel – Big Time

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  General Comment:I believe the "guy" that Peter refers to in the song is himself. The song seems to make a lighthearted reference to his hitting the big time himself/ "So" is Peter Gabriel's greatest commercial success and a turning point in his career. Songs like Sledgehammer and Big Time were written, no doubt, to get airplay and make it high on the charts -- for the most part a big departure from his previous four albums. Like others in the forum, I think he's parodying the big suceess crowd in the entertainment business. I think he's pointing at himself saying, "now folks, doesn't this look silly."
  
  BTW, I never thought much about the last line. The bulge could be a sexual reference or it could be a bulding wallet. At any rate, it's a great line and we'll be stuck having to guess. :0)

  Flag MisterMikeon January 10, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:I've never paid attention to the last line in the song...

  Flag Thia007on November 18, 2011   Link

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  General Comment:This is a great song. I think there is no mystery as to its meaning. It's clearly a hugely negative commentary on commercialism and materialism which we are taught to worship at the expense of substance, value, and humanity. My favorite lines?
  
  1) my heaven will be a big heaven and I will walk through the front door
  2) I will pray to a big god as I kneel in the big church
  3) I show them round my house, to my bed...I had it made like a mountain range with a snow-white pillow for my big fat head
  
  Peter Gabriel is brilliant and unafraid. Gotta love that!
  

  Flag naimawanon July 04, 2011   Link

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    I always thought he was saying "Higher" and not "Hi There" meaning he's taking it higher. And when he sings this song it sounds like he says "My heaven will be a big hell" but I guess I got those two things wrong. ha ha But anyway, I think he was pretty obvious with his intentions of the song, specially with the 80s being thought of as the materialistic decade (the me decade)... you know, "shop til' you drop" and all that. Though I think the last 20 years has been very materialistic compared to the 80s and has gotten worse... well until the economy started to implode the last 5+ years. I like Peter's newer music but I miss his 80s youthfulness and spunk, stuff like Shock the Monkey and Red Rain. Awesome music.

    Flag DavidWolfon September 15, 2011  
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  Song Meaning:One of the best songs to crank for one who reaches the materialistic humbling in life, especially in 2010. I think it's too bad that we don't have any musicians who can make satirical pop music anymore. Guess I'll have to open my big fat mouth. I especially like the bit making fun of religion. It's just as fruitless for society as materialism. Everything man made eventually will crumble as depicted in the video. Love the futility of it all. Too bad they didn't use is for the new Wall Street movie.

  Flag Heresy1on November 23, 2010   Link

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  General Comment:-but not me
  I'm smarter than that
  I worked it out
  I've been stretching my mouth
  to let those big words come right out
  
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  Take note of which letters come out of his mouth in the video.
  
  It's definitely about a guy who's moving up, but I disagree that it's about anticipation. It seems like he's already started being successful and everything about him is inflating... especially his lies about his success.

  Flag Cruon December 02, 2009   Link

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  General Comment:I think it is about this whole ambitious, upwardly mobile attitude people seem to have, but at the same time it seems to be very tongue-in-cheek, at the same time making fun of such people for being so superficial and materialistic.

  Flag PursuitofLifeon August 31, 2008   Link

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  General Comment:this song inflates my ego :D whenever i feel like people are idiots and don't understand, i rock out to this. specially the "stretching my mouth" part. what a ridiculous song, packs a good punch.

  Flag samadeeon January 17, 2008   Link

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  General Comment:Any time I get money, I put on a pair of sunglasses and blast this song through my house, and strut across my room like a dang fool. I do the same thing to Sledgehammer, lol.

  Flag Cotygeekon June 29, 2007   Link

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    LOL. I like to strut down the street listening to Sledgehammer and feel like the coolest person ever. :D

    Flag EnduringChillon June 22, 2012  
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  General Comment:yes people i guess you've all got it! anyway this song is like a perfect party song along with kate bush's "big sky", both BIG SONGS ;D

  Flag carrotkinson April 17, 2007   Link

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  General Comment:I think that this is sarcasticaly making fun of cocky celebrities.

  Flag sexy-man-beaston December 24, 2006   Link

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